Patents by Inventor Hidekazu Kitaura

Hidekazu Kitaura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12037779
    Abstract: A flush water tank apparatus has a reservoir tank, a discharge valve, a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion configured to drive the discharge valve, and a discharge/vacuum break valve device configured to supply the water supplied from the upstream side to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion on a downstream side. The discharge valve hydraulic drive portion includes a cylinder, and a piston configured to be moved by a pressure of the water flowing into the cylinder to move the discharge valve. The discharge/vacuum break valve device includes a valve body that operates to discharge the water flowing backward from the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion while opening the upstream side to an atmosphere when the supply of the water from the upstream side is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Shimuta, Hidekazu Kitaura, Nobuhiro Hayashi, Masahiro Kuroishi, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Koki Shinohara, Kenji Hatama, Takashi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11505933
    Abstract: A flush water tank apparatus capable of opening and closing a discharge valve without the use of an external power source. A flush water tank apparatus includes a reservoir tank having a discharge opening; a discharge valve which opens and closes to supply and shut off the supply of flush water to the flush toilet; a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion, which uses the supply pressure of supplied municipal water to drive the discharge valve; an electric generator for generating electrical power using the flow of supplied municipal water; an electromagnetic valve operated by electrical power generated by the generator; and a water supply control device for controlling the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion based on the operation of the electromagnetic valve, and for controlling the supply of water to the reservoir tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kitaura, Nobuhiro Hayashi, Akihiro Shimuta, Masahiro Kuroishi
  • Patent number: 11421409
    Abstract: Provided are a flush water tank apparatus capable of restraining instability of an operation of a piston and restraining fluctuations in a water pressure of flush water discharged from a first discharge part provided separately from an inlet, and a flush toilet apparatus including the flush water tank apparatus. A discharge valve hydraulic drive portion of a flush water tank apparatus of the present invention includes a cylinder, a piston, and a rod extending from the piston through a through-hole portion formed in the cylinder, the cylinder including an inlet into which flush water flows, a first discharge part that is provided separately from the inlet to drain the flush water, and a second discharge part that is provided separately from the first discharge part and is formed between the rod and the through-hole portion and between the piston and the through-hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Hayashi, Hidekazu Kitaura, Akihiro Shimuta, Masahiro Kuroishi, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Koki Shinohara, Kenji Hatama, Takashi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11421410
    Abstract: There are provided a flush water tank apparatus capable of reducing a pressure of flush water in a pressure chamber easily, and a flush toilet apparatus provided with the same. A discharge valve hydraulic drive portion of a flush water tank apparatus includes a cylinder in which supplied the flush water flows, a piston that is slidably disposed in the cylinder, partitions inside of the cylinder into a pressure chamber and a back pressure chamber, and further is moved from a first position to a second position by a pressure of the flush water that has flowed into the pressure chamber, an outflow portion from which the flush water in the cylinder flows out, and a communication mechanism that establishes communication between the pressure chamber and the outflow portion after the clutch mechanism is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kitaura, Nobuhiro Hayashi, Akihiro Shimuta, Masahiro Kuroishi, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Koki Shinohara, Kenji Hatama
  • Patent number: 11371229
    Abstract: There are provided a flush water tank apparatus capable of accurately setting the amount of flush water to be discharged while opening a discharge valve by a discharge valve hydraulic drive unit. A flush water tank apparatus includes a valve controller, where, in a case where a first amount of flush water is selected, the valve controller causes the timing control mechanism to be engaged with the discharge valve and causes the timing control mechanism to operate such that engagement is released after a lapse of a first period of time, and in a case where a second amount of flush water is selected, the valve controller causes the timing control mechanism to be engaged with the discharge valve and causes the timing control mechanism to operate such that engagement is released after lapse of a second period of time shorter than the first period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Hayashi, Hidekazu Kitaura, Akihiro Shimuta, Masahiro Kuroishi
  • Patent number: 11371230
    Abstract: The present invention is a flush water tank apparatus (4) and includes: a storage tank (10) on which a drain port (10a) is formed, a discharge valve (12) opening/closing the drain port; a discharge valve hydraulic drive unit (14) driving the discharge valve using water supply pressure; a clutch mechanism (30) coupling the discharge valve and the discharge valve hydraulic drive unit to pull up the discharge valve; flush water amount selection device capable of selecting between a first and a second amount of flush water; a timing control mechanism controlling a timing of the drain port being blocked; and a control jet unit (20) jetting, when the second amount is selected, flush water to a water receiving surface provided on the timing control mechanism so that a timing of the drain port being blocked is earlier than a case of the first amount of flush water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Hayashi, Hidekazu Kitaura, Akihiro Shimuta, Masahiro Kuroishi
  • Patent number: 11365535
    Abstract: A flush water tank apparatus enabling accurately setting an amount of flush water to be discharged while opening a discharge valve via a discharge valve hydraulic drive unit and a flush toilet apparatus including the flush water tank are provided. A flush water tank apparatus includes a first float device; a second float device that prevents from descent of the discharge valve according to the water level so as to discharge a second amount of flush water; and an adjustment mechanism configured so that when the second amount of flush water is selected by the flush water amount selection portion the clutch mechanism is disconnected at a pull-up height of the discharge valve such that the discharge valve descended by the disconnection of the clutch mechanism is held by the second float device in a holding state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kitaura, Nobuhiro Hayashi, Akihiro Shimuta, Masahiro Kuroishi
  • Patent number: 11332917
    Abstract: The flush water tank apparatus of the present invention includes: a clutch mechanism 30 coupling the discharge valve 12 and the discharge valve hydraulic drive unit 14 to pull up the discharge valve, and being disconnected at a predetermined timing to cause the discharge valve to descend; flush water amount selection device capable of selecting from a first and a second amounts of flush water; a float device 26 including a float and a holding mechanism switchable between a holding and a non-holding states in conjunction with movement of the float; and a timing control mechanism controlling a timing of a drain port 10a being blocked; and, when the second amount is selected, causes the second amount of flush water to be discharged by switching the holding mechanism to the non-holding state before a water level in a storage tank drops to a predetermined water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kitaura, Nobuhiro Hayashi, Akihiro Shimuta, Masahiro Kuroishi
  • Publication number: 20220074181
    Abstract: There is provided a flush water tank apparatus capable of returning to a state where next toilet flush operation can be started in a short time while opening a discharge valve using a water supply pressure. A flush water tank apparatus (4) includes a reservoir tank (10), a discharge valve (12), a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion (14) configured to drive the discharge valve using a water supply pressure, and a discharge/vacuum break valve device (30) provided on an upstream side of the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion and configured to supply the water supplied from the upstream side to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion on a downstream side. The discharge valve hydraulic drive portion includes a cylinder (14a) into which the water from the discharge/vacuum break valve device flows, and a piston (14b) configured to be moved by a pressure of the water flowing into the cylinder to move the discharge valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro SHIMUTA, Hidekazu KITAURA, Nobuhiro HAYASHI, Masahiro KUROISHI, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Koki SHINOHARA, Kenji HATAMA, Takashi YOSHIOKA
  • Publication number: 20220074180
    Abstract: There are provided a flush water tank apparatus capable of reducing a pressure of flush water in a pressure chamber easily, and a flush toilet apparatus provided with the same. A discharge valve hydraulic drive portion of a flush water tank apparatus includes a cylinder in which supplied the flush water flows, a piston that is slidably disposed in the cylinder, partitions inside of the cylinder into a pressure chamber and a back pressure chamber, and further is moved from a first position to a second position by a pressure of the flush water that has flowed into the pressure chamber, an outflow portion from which the flush water in the cylinder flows out, and a communication mechanism that establishes communication between the pressure chamber and the outflow portion after the clutch mechanism is disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu KITAURA, Nobuhiro HAYASHI, Akihiro SHIMUTA, Masahiro KUROISHI, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Koki SHINOHARA, Kenji HATAMA
  • Publication number: 20210381214
    Abstract: Provided are a flush water tank apparatus capable of restraining instability of an operation of a piston and restraining fluctuations in a water pressure of flush water discharged from a first discharge part provided separately from an inlet, and a flush toilet apparatus including the flush water tank apparatus. A discharge valve hydraulic drive portion of a flush water tank apparatus of the present invention includes a cylinder, a piston, and a rod extending from the piston through a through-hole portion formed in the cylinder, the cylinder including an inlet into which flush water flows, a first discharge part that is provided separately from the inlet to drain the flush water, and a second discharge part that is provided separately from the first discharge part and is formed between the rod and the through-hole portion and between the piston and the through-hole portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro HAYASHI, Hidekazu KITAURA, Akihiro SHIMUTA, Masahiro KUROISHI, Hiroshi HASHIMOTO, Koki SHINOHARA, Kenji HATAMA, Takashi YOSHIOKA
  • Patent number: 11186975
    Abstract: A flush water tank apparatus supplying flush water to a flush toilet by using electrical power generated in the flush water tank apparatus, and a flush toilet apparatus including the flush water tank apparatus are provided. The flush water tank apparatus includes a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion, a discharge control device, an electromagnetic valve, a branching portion causing supplied tap water to flow into the discharge control device and into the water supply valve respectively, and a generator generating electrical power to operate the electromagnetic valve. The generator is provided on a water conduit in a downstream side of the branching portion, and on the water conduit in an upstream side of the water supply valve or in a downstream side of the water supply valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kitaura, Nobuhiro Hayashi, Akihiro Shimuta, Masahiro Kuroishi
  • Publication number: 20210270024
    Abstract: A flush water tank apparatus enabling accurately setting an amount of flush water to be discharged while opening a discharge valve via a discharge valve hydraulic drive unit and a flush toilet apparatus including the flush water tank are provided. A flush water tank apparatus includes a first float device; a second float device that prevents from descent of the discharge valve according to the water level so as to discharge a second amount of flush water; and an adjustment mechanism configured so that when the second amount of flush water is selected by the flush water amount selection portion the clutch mechanism is disconnected at a pull-up height of the discharge valve such that the discharge valve descended by the disconnection of the clutch mechanism is held by the second float device in a holding state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu KITAURA, Nobuhiro HAYASHI, Akihiro SHIMUTA, Masahiro KUROISHI
  • Publication number: 20210270023
    Abstract: The flush water tank apparatus of the present invention includes: a clutch mechanism 30 coupling the discharge valve 12 and the discharge valve hydraulic drive unit 14 to pull up the discharge valve, and being disconnected at a predetermined timing to cause the discharge valve to descend; flush water amount selection device capable of selecting from a first and a second amounts of flush water; a float device 26 including a float and a holding mechanism switchable between a holding and a non-holding states in conjunction with movement of the float; and a timing control mechanism controlling a timing of a drain port 10a being blocked; and, when the second amount is selected, causes the second amount of flush water to be discharged by switching the holding mechanism to the non-holding state before a water level in a storage tank drops to a predetermined water level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu KITAURA, Nobuhiro HAYASHI, Akihiro SHIMUTA, Masahiro KUROISHI
  • Publication number: 20210270025
    Abstract: There are provided a flush water tank apparatus capable of accurately setting the amount of flush water to be discharged while opening a discharge valve by a discharge valve hydraulic drive unit. A flush water tank apparatus includes a valve controller, where, in a case where a first amount of flush water is selected, the valve controller causes the timing control mechanism to be engaged with the discharge valve and causes the timing control mechanism to operate such that engagement is released after a lapse of a first period of time, and in a case where a second amount of flush water is selected, the valve controller causes the timing control mechanism to be engaged with the discharge valve and causes the timing control mechanism to operate such that engagement is released after lapse of a second period of time shorter than the first period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro HAYASHI, Hidekazu KITAURA, Akihiro SHIMUTA, Masahiro KUROISHI
  • Publication number: 20210270026
    Abstract: The present invention is a flush water tank apparatus (4) and includes: a storage tank (10) on which a drain port (10a) is formed, a discharge valve (12) opening/closing the drain port; a discharge valve hydraulic drive unit (14) driving the discharge valve using water supply pressure; a clutch mechanism (30) coupling the discharge valve and the discharge valve hydraulic drive unit to pull up the discharge valve; flush water amount selection device capable of selecting between a first and a second amount of flush water; a timing control mechanism controlling a timing of the drain port being blocked; and a control jet unit (20) jetting, when the second amount is selected, flush water to a water receiving surface provided on the timing control mechanism so that a timing of the drain port being blocked is earlier than a case of the first amount of flush water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro HAYASHI, Hidekazu KITAURA, Akihiro SHIMUTA, Masahiro KUROISHI
  • Publication number: 20210040717
    Abstract: A flush water tank apparatus supplying flush water to a flush toilet by using electrical power generated in the flush water tank apparatus, and a flush toilet apparatus including the flush water tank apparatus are provided. The flush water tank apparatus includes a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion, a discharge control device, an electromagnetic valve, a branching portion causing supplied tap water to flow into the discharge control device and into the water supply valve respectively, and a generator generating electrical power to operate the electromagnetic valve. The generator is provided on a water conduit in a downstream side of the branching portion, and on the water conduit in an upstream side of the water supply valve or in a downstream side of the water supply valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu KITAURA, Nobuhiro HAYASHI, Akihiro SHIMUTA, Masahiro KUROISHI
  • Publication number: 20210040718
    Abstract: A flush water tank apparatus capable of opening and closing a discharge valve without the use of an external power source. A flush water tank apparatus includes a reservoir tank having a discharge opening; a discharge valve which opens and closes to supply and shut off the supply of flush water to the flush toilet; a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion, which uses the supply pressure of supplied municipal water to drive the discharge valve; an electric generator for generating electrical power using the flow of supplied municipal water; an electromagnetic valve operated by electrical power generated by the generator; and a water supply control device for controlling the supply of water to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion based on the operation of the electromagnetic valve, and for controlling the supply of water to the reservoir tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu KITAURA, Nobuhiro HAYASHI, Akihiro SHIMUTA, Masahiro KUROISHI
  • Patent number: 10287764
    Abstract: Problem: Provided is a flush toilet capable of increasing the volume of a waste conveyance flow, thereby improving a waste conveyance capability. Solution: The flush toilet includes: a toilet main unit (2) comprising a discharge conduit (16) communicated with the discharge trap pipe. The discharge conduit includes a flow dividing section (26) provided on a downstream side of an upstream discharge conduit section, and a delaying flow passage (28) branched from the flow dividing section. An inward region of the skirt portion includes: a central region (D) and a lateral region (E). The delaying flow passage (28) forms a passage in the lateral region (E) and merges leading flush water having flowed into the delaying flow passage from the flow dividing section (26) with a flush water flow reaching the flow dividing section at a timing after the inflow of the flush water to the delaying flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Nakashima, Nobuhiro Hayashi, Hidekazu Kitaura, Haruka Saito, Isami Sakaba
  • Patent number: 10287767
    Abstract: Provided is a flush toilet capable of increasing the volume of a waste conveyance flow for washing down waste thereby improving a waste conveyance capability. The flush toilet includes: a discharge conduit (16) communicated with the discharge trap pipe. The discharge conduit includes: a flow dividing section (26) and a delaying flow passage (28) branched from the flow dividing section. The flow dividing section has a guide portion (32) configured to guide relatively low-speed flush water along the guide portion to the delaying flow passage. The delaying flow passage (28) is configured such that flush water having flowed into the delaying flow passage along the guide portion (32) is enabled to merge with a flush water flow reaching the flow dividing section at a timing after the inflow of the flush water to the delaying flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Hayashi, Hidekazu Kitaura, Takahiro Nakashima, Haruka Saito, Isami Sakaba